TOPIC:

Yep being anxious about not being able to sleep will make it more difficult. I have nerve pain which wakes me up/prevents me sleeping through the night, best thing is to occupy yourself with something like reading, not dwelling on the fact you can't sleep. Often it will then just happen.

Hello! I'm taking a quarter of xanax at night...Hope that is no problem...

The Doc said benzos are fine Life.

Some kind of insomnia is fairly common with all of these drugs, especially the riba. Not falling asleep. Waking up early. Not such a big deal unless you have to go to work all bleary eyed and wore out. Not getting anxious about it helps, even if you have to take a light sleeping pill now and again to break the cycle of sleep deprivation. Other than that I use essential oils. Marjoram is the most sedative but the smell is a bit medicinal. Mix with other more pleasant smells, like lavender and Clary Sage which are both relaxing. Dilute with a few drops of lotion and spread on pulse points, back of neck, anywhere you like really. Focusing on a pleasant smell helps the mind to stop racing. Sometimes that is all it takes to drop off.

dt

Mindfulness meditation is also a good one, particularly if you can't take sleeping meds long term due to addiction issues.

May as well observe your thoughts, since you can't stop em lol

Yes benzos can can used. The FAQs have a list of common medications you might want to use to save looking up the interactions:

fixhepc.com/kunena-2015-11-10/faq.html

Insomnia is a known side effect of these medications. Here is my generic advice about insomnia:

gp2u.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/how-do-i-fix-my-insomnia.html

2b, I am also having some sleep issues, getting to sleep after taking the meds is sometimes difficult, but am not taking any sleep meds. However, I am changing the time I take the tx to morning. I confirmed with Dr Freeman and you can simply take your meds at an earlier time - around lunchtime/afternoon - one day then the next day take them in the morning and stay on the new schedule. I will be doing the changover this weekend as it is a 3-day long weekend here. Maybe you could consider doing the same thing. I am on day 26 of Sof/Dac. Best of luck. Gary

Hi Gary, I have been taking them in the morning, when i started in Aus it was night but when i got back here, the night became morning and I have stayed on the morning schedule. At first I thought the 3 hour thing was one thing, but its weirdly consistent now. 3 hours of sleep and pow, im up.

Hello 2b
I am day 15 today. I have the same problem…I go to sleep then 3 hours later am awake..I drift off back to sleep have extremely vivid dreams and wake up on the hour and repeat the dreams until next hour.

Although last night after my first 'wake up' I slept for four hours straight.

I spoke to my nurse last week (my first week) and said I may need sleeping tablets..she suggested I wait until week 4 to see if it settles down. And there was a change last night. I realise waiting may be difficult for you because you work . Good luck.

2b, bummer about already being on a morning schedule. Maybe no easy fix then. I guess as Joan wrote, you could wait a bit and hope it changes, go with some sleep meds or try some natural treatments, meditation, exercise, etc. I have been living with the shortened sleep, it is getting better day by day, and making up for it on days off but figure to change the tx schedule as it isn't the optimal situation. Good luck with the situation and hoping for the best for you. Gary

Absolutely 2b the 3 hour sleeping stints resonates with me. I now know that can get back to sleep from there but in the beginning I as living on 4/5 hours a night but felt okay with that. Getting a good six hours now and feeling pretty good. Em

I have the same problem.Intense sleep with crazy vivid dreams for about 4 or 5hrs ,and then wide awake with the brain going like an out of control bus.
I'm convinced its the "speed like effect riba has on the brain".I dug up a box of 100- 10mg of diazapan I had bought while in Laos 2yrs ago and never used.I find one cut in 4 with a tablet cutter.ie 2.5mg does the trick,and quickly puts me back to sleep..As far as can find out there are no adverse effects on tx,and I don't expect to have to keep using them.
A period of deep meditation during the day seems to help too.Exercise too is important,at least for me.A day without it and I notice the adverse effect immediately.

2b, I have been doing a bit of research and came across various sites that discuss using castor oil. Some suggest putting it on your eyelids for insomnia and others recommend a compress for liver/ lymph detox. It may sound a bit unusual, the eyelid part, but the compress seems to have been used for years and there are some studies supporting the effectiveness of using it. I actually have some oil and compresses I bought recently but did not use so am going to test it over the next few days, especially interested in the eyelid part. According to TCM when the liver is not functioning well people tend to wake up in the early hours due to congestion, etc. Anyway, if you are interested google it and see what you think. Regards, Gary

dointime wrote: Some kind of insomnia is fairly common with all of these drugs, especially the riba. Not falling asleep. Waking up early. Not such a big deal unless you have to go to work all bleary eyed and wore out. Not getting anxious about it helps, even if you have to take a light sleeping pill now and again to break the cycle of sleep deprivation. Other than that I use essential oils. Marjoram is the most sedative but the smell is a bit medicinal. Mix with other more pleasant smells, like lavender and Clary Sage which are both relaxing. Dilute with a few drops of lotion and spread on pulse points, back of neck, anywhere you like really. Focusing on a pleasant smell helps the mind to stop racing. Sometimes that is all it takes to drop off.
dt

Absolutely agree DT, I use an Aromatherapy diffuser at night, with a Blended mix that does contain Marjoram and I add Clary Sage and Cinnamon Essential Oils and I'm out!! The nights I haven't had such good sleep have been extremely hot, no a/c, only a fan and it blows my 'aromas' around but, drops on a pillow then help

Same as others are saying, I sleep about 4-5 hours and wake - having wild dreams - go back to sleep and they continue, it's like pressing pause on a video!

Hey Chajai - Personally, I can't live without lavender oil - Always to hand, especially when traveling.